BJD MLAs support Alumina plant in Kalahandi

Bhubaneswar, Dec 2 (UNI) Three ruling BJD MLAs today demanded setting up of an Alumina plant at Lanjigarha in Kalahandi district in the interest of people here.

Narla MLA Balabhadra Majhi, Koksara MLA Puspendra Singh Deo and Dharmagarha MLA Bir Sipka told newspersons here the plant should be set up on the basis of guidelines prescribed by the Supreme Court recently while adjudicating a case filed by Vedant Aluminium Limited (VAL).

The legislators said the guidelines should be implemented in toto for the peripheral development of Kalahandi district and to raise the economic standard of the poor people of the area.

They alleged that some people with vested interests were opposing industrialisation in the area by misleading the people.

The leaders said the tribal dominated district had rich deposits of bauxite but no industries. The minerals needed to be exploited properly for the uplift of the area and its people, they added.

The BJD MLAs said since a majority of the people of the district were living in poverty, mineral as well as agro-based industries should be set up in the district to raise the economic standard of the people.

The apex court has directed to constitute a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)comprising Sterlite India Industries Limited(SIIL) along with Orissa government and the state owned Orissa Mining Corporation for mining.

The leaders said as per court order SIIL along with Orissa Mining Corporation could apply afresh for the project but nowhere has the court opposed industrialisation of the district.

They said a campaign would be launched to apprise the people of the Supreme Court directive and the industrial policy of the state government. A meeting would also be held at Lanjigarha soon to welcome the Supreme Court order, they said.

The leaders demanded priority for the local people in giving employment in the plant.